shuvonshuvoff motorhome adventures

 When I drove onto the ferry at Holyhead to go across to Ireland in the early hours of the morning, I knew that I was in for a magical time over the next month because I had been over to Ireland many times as a child with my family and loved it and latterly to visit various friends.  Little did I know that it would turn out to be far more magical than I had envisaged. The crossing was very bumpy with force eight gales. Despite that I managed to drop off to sleep for a couple of hours. I arrived at the Port of Dublin around six o clock in the morning.  I drove to Lucan on the outskirts of Dublin to my friend Anita's house. There was a handy spot to park up just right outside her house. It was marvellous to see a friendly face. She laid on a great Irish welcome for me, a full Irish breakfast.  We spent a few hours chatting and catching up on the gossip then I headed off to start my month long trip exploring the Emerald Isle. I drove down the East Coast to a campsite in Roundwood, in

It has been a while since I last wrote my blog. That is because I have been busy focussing on finishing my book, RETIREMENT REBEL, which is due out with vertebrate publishing,  https://www.adventurebooks.com  in October. (Pre-sales in September) I still cannot believe that at the age of 63 I am about to become a published author. It has not been an easy road.  I have spent the last three years since I retired and got rid of my flat and possessions, travelling Great Britain and Ireland in my motorhome 'Dora the Explora' having adventures, to highlight ageism and challenge ageist stereotypes. As well as championing positive ageing.  Throughout those years I have has many highs and lows, one of the main lows spending nine months of that time in lockdowns because of Covid. The highs, included being shown tremendous kindness by complete strangers, who have gone out of their way to help me when I have been struggling. This has warmed my heart and restored my faith in human nature.  D

I just burst into tears as I looked out over the sea. I had dreamt of this moment for years and for one reason or another my life got in the way and I did not get to realise my dream until today. At the age of 62 I was finally on the Island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides. I was camped up in my motorhome on the edge of the Atlantic. Listening to the roar of the ocean and seeing the fluffy white clouds dotted around in the bright winter blue sky just added to the excitement of the moment.  I had arrived in the pitch dark the night before. I did not have a clue what would confront me when I opened my motorhome door the following morning. This just far exceeded my expectations. Dreams really do come true and I was excited about what more was to come. I was going to spend the next month exploring the Islands on the West Coast of Scotland.  Margaret Mary and her husband Douglas, who own the site, gave me a very warm welcome and warned me that the high winds were coming and it would be best i

I drove onto the farm in Dorset and it was so nice to be back. I had spent five weeks volunteering in the spring and loved it so much. I was looking forward to catching up with Jan, the owner.   Being so excited about arriving I did not pay enough attention to the ground below me and when I pulled up on the grass I immediately got stuck. I tried everything to move the motorhome but it would not budge.  I have been so lucky because this is only the second time that I have found myself stuck in the grass since I set off nearly two and a half years ago. This time I knew not to panic because I knew that we would work out a solution. Thankfully that solution was close at hand because Jan has a massive tractor and between the two of us we managed to tow it off the grass verge and move it to a better position.  I set up home and looked forward to working on the farm again. Jan only expected me to do a few hours a day and she is very flexible, so there was no pressure. I love the physical exer